Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online Episode 8
Sword Art Online Culling: Gun Gale Online
by Theron Martin, 
With this episode, Squad Jam 2 gets down to business. Based on the pacing of the boxing'south first episode, I'g expecting it to last 4 episodes, perhaps v if the aftermath isn't given a full wind-downwardly week. This episode focuses on the preliminary battles, next week volition focus on the impending group battle, and the terminal two volition involve the surviving contenders picking each other off as the final confrontation develops. Of grade, at that place's always a possibility that something will shake up this form of events, just Keiichi Sigsawa has all the same to evangelize whatsoever truly startling plot twists in this story.
The battle's start plays out with relatively brief bursts of action separated by lulls where characters consider tactics or vent their frustrations about having to be patient before the next confrontation. Each of the top contender teams gets at least some attention. The MP4 squad doesn't meet any activity, as they are staked out on the map's highest ground, and so all we see is Pito lament about being bored and M trying to continue her in line with practicalities. (I'm guessing that they will make up for that next episode, though!) The Memento Mori guys are staked out in the snowfall-covered forest, and while we're shown the aftermath of them confronting someone, we don't run into the actual fight. The same goes for the squad with the greenish-haired girl, who we now know is named Shirley. Her heart doesn't actually seem to be in this battle, and the other guys seem to be treating her with kid gloves, which raises several questions about her graphic symbol. I'k going to guess correct now that she won't be a big actor in this arc but could take a featured arc later in the serial, every bit her appearances and then far give the feeling of setting up for something after. The automobile gun guys are also back for another brief cameo.
The two nigh established teams naturally become the about attending. SHINC gets a fractional battle scene, but their reanimation moment where the girls get on Boss's example for using dirty language might actually exist more entertaining. They practice brand a skilful signal that you lot have to exist careful of in-game behavior accidentally leaking out into the real world, but the style she tries to recapitulate "y'all don't have any balls" in a more ladylike fashion is adept for a chuckle. So is a lot of Fukaziroh's beliefs, equally she has taken to her role with zeal and seems to exist having fun spouting off action movie ane-liners. When she isn't getting her legs blown off past a booby trap – which allows the story to work in the curious rule almost lost limbs recovering in a couple of minutes if you're non dead – she's quite the clever tactician, as she'due south already figured out how to devastatingly exploit her grenade launchers for indirect fire. Nosotros definitely haven't seen the last of that ploy, since not needing to meet the target and being able to ignore horizontally-positioned embrace sounds similar the key to dealing with G and other elevation snipers. LLENN naturally gets the star treatment in the other boxing, every bit she uses her speed and mobility to deftly accept nigh of one half-dozen-man team on her own; this is arguably the crispest and most exciting sustained action scene nevertheless in the serial, pocketknife-through-the-crotch attack notwithstanding. Only the limits of the series' blitheness budget keep that fight from being a total-blown spectacle.
The visuals do shine in other ways, however. The background terrain is nicely rendered, and the camera seems particularly fond of panning over Pito's sexy curves. The design of that mysterious sports dome-like structure is also eye-catching, though why it looks fully intact when everything else in the town is decrepit raises some intriguing questions. Overall, the story could stand to pick up the pace a lilliputian, but SJ2 is generally off to a good offset.
Rating: B+
Sword Art Online Culling: Gun Gale Online is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.
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